A Night in the Life of an Emergency Pet Hospital Vet

By Jennifer Viegas

TV shows often chronicle the dramatic goings-on in the emergency room of hospitals, but what about emergency pet hospitals? Here, Dr. Katy Nelson, an associate emergency veterinarian and a certified veterinary journalist in Alexandria, Va., describes what goes on at such hospitals from her perspective.

How an ER Shift StartsNelson says a typical shift in an ER starts and ends the same way: with rounds. “Vets, just like doctors, have to turn over their patients so that the incoming doctor knows all the ins and outs of each case, knows what to watch for, and what the plan is.”

After this work comes what she and some other ER vets call “SOAP.” This stands for “Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan.” The acronym refers to many different activities, from fielding owner questions, to communicating with other veterinary hospitals, to handling all of the emergency cases that come through the front door. Some nights, this process goes very quickly; other nights, it goes on and on. “The reality of emergency medicine is that it’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates -- you never know what you’re going to get,” says Nelson. But she says most “emergency types” thrive on the uncertainty.

Cat ER PatientsNelson says that most cats come into the emergency room for the following health problems: vomiting, diarrhea, urinary problems, respiratory issues and lack of appetite.

“Cats can be very vocal and very physical, so you’ve got to use caution when dealing with them,” says Nelson. “For the most part, they’re just scared, so by dealing with them slowly and with patience, you often can achieve what you need to get done by simply assuring them that you’re not out to hurt them.”

How ER Pet Hospitals Differ From OthersAs opposed to a regular veterinary office, most ER facilities stay open for 24 hours, or handle cases after normal working hours. Emergency hospitals are typically more expensive, with care costing about 20 percent to 30 percent more due to higher overhead and higher liability, as well as what Nelson calls “the convenience factor.” As opposed to other care facilities, some ER hospitals would rather that the owner not be in the treatment area at the time of the emergency. This is much like a human hospital, where the family is frequently kept outside in the waiting room.

Reasons to Visit an ERBecause of the ER cost and the often late-night hours, some cat owners try to wait out their pets’ health problems until the morning, figuring that their cats’ usual veterinarians can handle the issues then. Nelson, however, says you should never wait until morning if the following symptoms surface:

Respiratory distress. It could be tied to asthma, congestive heart failure or a clot in the lungs, all of which can be fatal.

Nonproductive urination. A urinary obstruction can be life-threatening.

Vomiting/diarrhea/lack of appetite for more than 48 hours. This can lead to severe and life-threatening liver damage among cats.

Ingestion of string or a possible toxin. It’s better to be safe than sorry in such cases.

What to Do Before Going to the ER With Your Cat

Nelson offers the following three tips:

1. Try to bring a copy of the medical records with you (and not just a receipt) so that your ER doctor can have a complete picture of your cat’s history rather than just having to go on your memory alone, which is not always that great during an emergency.

2. Always bring your cat in a carrier. Remember that there will be other pets in the hospital. For your own pet’s safety, having it in a carrier is key.

3. If you know your cat gets aggressive or has required sedation during prior visits, please tell your veterinarian or technician immediately so that no one gets hurt.

Nerves and emotions run high at ER hospitals, so by following such advice, you can eliminate additional hassle. You might also help to save your pet’s life.

Jennifer Viegas is the managing editor ofThe Daily Cat. She is a journalist for Discovery News, the news service for the Discovery Channel,and has written more than 20 books on animals, health and other science-related topics.

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Posted on April 30, 2012

Bilal says: I am currently loonkig into pet health ins. myself because I have 5 dogs all together. I haven't finished researching it yet, but I deal with pets for a living and am compiling info based on the input I recieve from my clients and compiling it with info I gathered from my vet and other vets in my area. Let me know if you find one that is pretty good and not to expensive and I will do the same. Was this answer helpful?

Posted on June 8, 2012

Aldrai says: First off, be sure you can financially hanlde a pet. Vaccinations, spaying/neutering, your apartment's security deposit for pets, a high quality food, litter, toys and etc can really add up. Not to mention, any surprise health problems or injuries that would require pricey vet trips. If you're good to go with all that, wait til you're settled in at school and have a decent idea of your schedule and how much time you think you can realistically dedicate to a cat. However cats are pretty independent, especially as adults. Though a kitten will require litter box training and extra attention to get socialized and all her energy out. Good luck with your decision!Edit: Cats don't travel well in my experience. I'm sure there are exceptions but in general, cats like familiarity and the noise and hustle of airports and flying makes them pretty skittish and/or defensive. On top of that, many cats get motion sickness. I found this out the hard way when I flew from NY to OR with my cat. I generally take the dog but leave the cat with a friend when I have to travel. Here's a link with some handy info about traveling with kitties.,,q2m1,00.htmlNote this part especially:Within 10 days of the flight, you must take your cat to the veterinarian and get a health certificate. The airlines will also visually assess your cat's health before they put it on the plane. Check the rabies requirements in both your state and the destination state to make sure your cat won't be impounded.